FREE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1932, Page 3

FREE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP.

HUGE RELIGIOUS SERVICE,

COMMUNION FOR 2000 PERSONS,

"This service will be an historic event in the religious life of the city, and, I believe, of the Dominion," said the Rev. W. Walker, of the Pitt Street Methodist Church, who presided at a Communion service at the Town Hall last evening, attended by about 2000 adherents of various non-episcopal churches. The object of the service was to promote the cause of Christian unity by showing the agreement in all essentials among members of the evange'ical free churches, and in particular th • principle of intercommunion;

The four churches which combined in organising the service were the Pitt Street Methodist, St. James' Presbyterian, Bcresford Street Congregational, and the Baptist Tabernacle. The distribution of the consecrated elements among the huge congregation was a task of a magnitude not attempted hitherto in New Zealand. The whole service was distinguished bv an inspiring reverence. Ml - . Walker said in his address that the gathering served to bring Christians together, but it was also a summons to witness to the noblest thittge of the Gospel and to show that the country depended not on material but on spiritual things. Devotional addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. W. Kemp and E.R. Harries, and prayers were offered by the Revs. A. V. Whiting, Dr. J. J. North and Dr. C. 11. Laws. During the service a message was read from the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, who said he felt impelled to send a message of .-ongratulation and encouragement. "Tbis country is just now faced with big problems, which merit the active and earnest consideration of all patriotic citizens, and especially of all -ood Christians, and tho friendly cooperation of the latter is to my mind li"„cly to prove the most potent factor in tiicir satisfactory solution." A collection taken yielded £50, winch will lie paid to the .Mayor's Unemployment Fund.